Republicans are “making some big promises to try to lure West Virginia Senator-elect Joe Manchin to cross the aisle,” Fox News reports.
Aside from his pick of committee assignments (likely the Energy and Natural Resources Committee), Manchin might get support for one of his pet projects – a plant to convert coal to diesel fuel that has stalled under Democratic leadership in Washington.
It’s one of Manchin’s pet projects and could mean big money for the state’s coal producers.
"Republicans believe in an ‘all of the above’ approach to energy," one top Senate aide told Power Play. "And coal-to-diesel could certainly be part of that."
Manchin’s switch could mean Republican support for not just $1 billion in seed money for the project but also a deal, much sought in coal country, to require the armed forces to use converted coal for fuel.
Republicans believe Manchin is particularly susceptible to the overture because he is up for reelection in 2012 and will have to be on the ticket with President Obama, who is direly unpopular in West Virginia.
Thoughts from the Manchin camp:
But Team Manchin, so far, is sticking with the campaign line that the two-term conservative governor is heading to Washington to change the way his party operates and to look for chances to work on bipartisan projects.
"He was elected as a Democrat and he has to go to Washington as a Democrat to try, in good faith, to make the changes in the party he campaigned on," said one Manchin advisor. "Now, if that doesn’t work and Democrats aren’t receptive, I don’t know what possibilities that leaves open."
(credit image – daylife/associated press)
Congress in Your Pocket
S E N A T U S 
Has WV EVER had a GOP Senator? Byrd was there forever and Rockefeller was preceded by Jennings Randolph–literally a New Dealer. I’m guessing a state that could elect a KKKer to the Senate (Byrd) would not have looked too kindly on the Party of Reconstruction, back in the day.
If he plans on changing parties, he should have done it before the election. If he changes so quickly after an election, this man has no moral character at all — he’s a sleaze ball.
It would not surprise me if Manchin did switch to the Republicans—-he is surely a “Blue Dog” Democrat that is barely a Dem in but name only—a Dem version of a Republican “RHINO.”
And as far as Manchin having any scrupples is concerned—plllluhhhezzze–do ya think that the guy really has any?? Other than to get elected to whatever office he seeks and to help out his “pals”–with most of his pals being those who are the kingpins of KING COAL and other big money interests–I don’t think the man has any scrupples at all. He is more than willing to sell himself to the highest bidder.
Do you really think the republicans can deliver on the promise to convert coal to diesel? US is going to natural gas. Coal mines are closing. Manchin may be sleazy, but he is not stupid.